That Word

by CalmHeart

Rating: everyone
Tags: Starlight Glimmer, Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance, Transformers
Length: 3545

(Armada Series) (One shot) Starscream learns what love is. Starlight has something to tell him. Will they defy odds?

Set in TF: Armada. Starscream is told about what love is by Alexis and her friends. Starlight, that same day, decides to take a leap, and tell him how she really feels. Will he be able to feel this emotion most transformers don't?

Published 2022-11-19 00:50:00 UTC
Last updated 2022-11-19 00:50:00 UTC

Love

"And then I herd Carol was in love with Brad!"

"What? No!" Rad exclaimed.

"Yes! I wasn't sure myself, but I overheard her talking to Flora near the bathroom sinks, and Carol said, and I quote, "Oh Flora I just don't know what to do, he'll never fall for someone like me.""

"I think she's putting too much doubt on herself. Brad's flirted with her a couple times before, so he at least has a crush on her." Carlos commented.

"What in the world are you all blabbering on about?"

Alexis suddenly looked up to see who had spoken.

It was the presently ex Decepticon, Starscream.

He had been working with the Autobots following his falling out with Megatron, and he was trying to figure things out. As of now, they were all at the Autobots' base, relaxing, waiting. Rad, Carlos, and Alexis were standing around talking about their school's rumors.

"Oh, just school." Alexis responded simply, not wanting to disclose any more.

"Alexis just got the justest tip in all of mountain high!" Carlos blurted out excitedly.

"Carlos.." Alexis groaned with annoyance.

"What kind of tip?" Starscream questioned suspiciously.

"Oh! It's nothing serious-"

Rad interrupted Alexis.

"One of Alexis' classmates is in love with the popular kid at school."

Alexis got angry at Rad, turning to him.

"Rad! That was totally uncalled for!"

Rad put his hands up.

"What? I think it's great that she's found love, I'm not trying to make fun of her or anything, I swear!"

"What is that?"

The three kids aburptly looked to Starscream. Alexis was confused.

"What's what?"

"That word you and Rad keep saying. Love."

There was a minute of silence.

"You did not just say that." She claimed in astonishment.

"As a matter of fact I did. What is this love?"

Alexis, Rad, and Carlos looked at each other.

"Well, love is..." Carlos began to think.

"That's a hard question, actually." Rad pondered. They had never actually stopped to think about what it is.

"I guess we just... know what it is." Carlos finished.

Alexis suddenly came out of wondering.

"Oh! Well,"

She turned to look up at Starscream.

"It's the feeling you get when you really like someone. You care for that someone a lot, and you would practically do anything for them. They're someone you're very comfortable with around, someone you would give your life for. They're your landing pad, your shoulder to cry on, the person you open up to the most. Among numerous other things."

Starscream stared down at her, and blinked. It was certainly a lot to absorb.

"Hey that explanation wasn't too bad Alexis." Carlos agreed with her.

"Better than anything I could come up with." Rad ran his hand through his hair with a defeated smile.

Alexis smiled. "Oh, well, most of it was from my mom and dad, so it wasn't all me." She turned.

"What do you think Starscream?"

He was silent. Processing his own thoughts and feelings.

His eyes shifted away just slightly for a second before returning to the kids.

"How would you know if you were in love?"

"You'd feel all warm and fuzzy inside, you'd smile more often in front of the person you're in love with, they would make you feel happier just from their presence, oh, and you would get nervous around them more if you're shy about your feelings. You'd just know, you know?"

He looked back up.

"Hm. I see."

And with that, he walked away from the group.

"What was that about?" Rad was slightly confused on why Starscream walked off so suddenly.

"Eh, he probably isn't interested in hearing more. Though I can't blame him." Carlos answered out loud.

Alexis just stood there, silent.

'hmm..'

"Twilight, I've got a problem."

"What is it Starlight?"

"It is possible to fall for someone who can't fall in love?"

"Oh. Uh, I guess it could be possible.."

"Precisely. And that's my problem."

"...!"

"Oh! Wait, you don't mean.. him?"

".. Yeah. What can I do Twilight? I can't stop hanging out with him, and he wouldn't possibly understand what I'm feeling for him! Besides, he's a giant robot who's race doesn't even know the concept of love!"

"Starlight. You need to calm down first. Second, well, you're just going to have to really explain how you feel."

*sigh* "It's a lost cause Twilight. ...Maybe I will tell him. But I won't be expecting him to return the gesture."

"Sorry Starlight. That must hurt."

"It will soon enough."

On their first day on Earth, the Autobots had also come into contact with the main 6, and Spike and Starlight, whom had been mysteriously transported to the world.

Starlight was the first to interact with Starscream off the battlefield and the two quickly become more than just formal acquaintances. They were actually close friends, though, Starscream would never admit to it so.

Starscream had a small room that was watched over by the others.

He was sitting down to the left of the space, mini-cons also hanging out alongside him.

All the mini-cons seemed to really like Starscream, which was puzzling to the Autobots. Speaking of, the team busy that day, and it seemed that it was going to be that way.

Starscream sighed heavily. What Alexis said was still swirling around in his thoughts, and it was beginning to frustrate him.

'Why can't I get those words out of my head? They're only her opinion, right?'

Then he herd a familiar voice.

"I see the mini-cons still can't get enough you Starscream."

He glanced over at the large doorway.

Starlight Glimmer was entering the room with a smile on her face.

Starscream scoffed. "I know. At first I thought it was amazing they'd all want to be with me, but now they won't leave me alone."

Starlight laughed.

"Yeah."

A couple of the mini-bots noticed Starlight, and started making happy beeps and boops.

They ran over to her, Starlight chuckling.

"But you gotta admit, it is kinda cute how they like us more than their combine buddies."

Starscream smirked.

"Sure."

He continued to stare at the periwinkle unicorn, feeling relaxed and content.

The words from the conversation came back into his head as he continued to gaze at her.

"Hey Starscream?"

He snapped out of it, and realized she was trying to talk to him. When his attention came back to her, she was staring at him. She wondered why he was staring at her so.

"What is it?"

She realized now he was staring at her intensively. She looked away.

'Stupid Starlight, stupid! Don't stare at him for so long!'

She fought back the teasings of pink to her cheeks.

'Dang it this is just making it more awkward, talk to him!'

"Uh, I need to talk with you for a minute."

"Talk away." Starscream granted her to talk to her heart's content.

This was nothing new. The close friends would have numerous conversations, ranging from deep to lighthearted.

Starlight glanced at the mini-cons.

"Alone. In private."

That slightly surprised him. But not enough to invoke an emotional response.

He looked over to the mini-cons.

"Give me and Glimmer here a moment alone please."

The minis grew disappointed and sad, but understood he wasn't being mean. They walked out of the room, starlight parting them with kind words.

"It's alright little guys, daddy Starscream will allow you back shortly."

Starscream grimaced. "That's not funny."

Starlight started to giggle, turning back to him.

"But it's true."

That giggle was enough to make him smile. A small one, but a genuine one none the less.

"So, what did you wanna talk about?"

Alexis, Rad, and Carlos were walking with Hotshot to the training room to watch him fight, but their conversation was interrupted by a small group of Mini-cons waiting out in the hallway.

Rad noticed his mini-con friend in the shuffle, and called out his name.

"High Wire!"

The light blue mini con noticed his friend, as the group walked over to him.

"What are you all doing out here?" Rad asked.

"Starscream probably got annoyed by all of them." Hotshot quickly gave an answer.

"I dunno man, even when he wants to be left alone, he usually lets the mini-cons hang around him." As Carlos was talking, Alexis noticed Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy peeking behind a doorframe.

"What are you girls doing?"

Rarity immediately shushed them.

"What are you looking at exactly?" Carlos asked, the three kids walking over to them.

This time Twilight shushed them harshly.

"We're here for friend support."

The three kids poked their heads into the room, and saw Starlight walking up to a sitting Starscream.

The kids hushed their voices.

Now Hotshot was curious.

"For what exactly?"

He joined in on the spying party.

Twilight smiled.

"She's about to tell him something that might change their friendship forever."

That confused the kids and Hotshot, but for now, they joined in on the eavesdropping.

Starlight felt anxious. She walked towards Starscream slowly.

"Well, uh, a question before I say. You don't know what love is, correct?"

Starscream was pleasantly surprised. He sat up straight.

"Actually, Alexis explained the concept to me earlier today."

Starlight blinked.

"Wait, Really?"

The three ponies and Hotshot looked at Alexis. Alexis shrugged.

Starscream waved a hand. "Eh, I wanted to know, she kept saying that word."

Starlight rubbed her chin with a hoof. "Okay.. But why did you want to know more?"

Starscream looked sideways, and grimaced at himself.

"... Personal reasons."

He didn't want to admit it to himself, but he felt embarrassed by Starlight's questioning. It caused him to think about the meaning of love, and it kept coming back to Alexis' words. There was something bigger he was hiding, even from himself, but he didn't know that yet.

Starlight didn't notice, and thought he was acting like himself. But that was probably because she herself was nervous as a little foal around crowds.

"Okay then." Starlight glanced behind her, and took a deep breath.

'You can do this starlight.'

"Uh, Star, there's something that's come up with me recently, and I.."

Starscream grew concerned for her.

"Did something bad happen? Did you do something wrong?"

He felt a flicker in his spark.

"Did I do something wrong?"

Starlight was immediately taken aback.

"What? No, no, no, you did nothing wrong at all! It's..."

Starlight blushed as the words come out.

"It turns out I like you beyond just friendship."

"What?"

Starscream suddenly realized.

"Wait, you don't mean-"

Starlight looked down. "Yes. That word."

She rubbed her hoof, embarrassed beyond belief.

"It isn't right. But it's the truth. I've fallen for you."

The kids and Hotshot gasped.

"That's what this is about?" Rad asked.

"Yes." Fluttershy answered quietly.

Alexis gave out a silent "oh".

Starlight turned away from him.

"This has probably made us awkward. I'll understand if you..." Starlight's words trailed off, and she didn't want to continue to bury herself.

Starscream didn't respond.

Starlight closed her eyes, and started to walk away.

'I knew it. I knew this was a bad idea. He has no clue. And now I've tarnished our friendship too. How did this even happen?...'

"Starlight."

She stopped.

She glanced behind her shoulder, and noticed. Starscream was holding a hand out on the floor for her.

She turned, and looked at his hand, then his face. He gestured her to climb on.

Starlight did so, albeit with confusion.

"Starscream?"

He brought her up to eye level.

"Do you know how Alexis explained love to me?"

Starlight scratched her head. "Um, No. But to add to anything she has said, I would say that love feels deeper, more intimate than the love in fiendship."

Starscream looked at her.

Once again, he was pondering this word, love. Did this feeling, love, really mean a lot to fleash based organisms? Was there really an actual reason the transformers race couldn't feel love? Or, could they? Could they develop this feeling too?

All these questions floated around his memory storage, when another came to his full attention.

'How.. do I feel about her exactly?'

Something was different. He needed to know, now or never.

He closed his eyes, and exhaled.

He opened his eyes again, gazing at Starlight, who was now intrigued by his long pause of thought.

"I'll explain exactly how I feel about you."

And maybe figure himself out along the way.

Starlight did not expect this turn of events, but welcomed it.

She nodded, letting him his voice his thoughts and feelings as clear as he could.

"You're the only person I have ever opened up to. I've only shared myself with you. You seem to make me feel, well, happy."

Starlight stared at him with a flattered shock, a small grin stuck on her lips.

"Whenever we're together, I feel.. Comfortable. You were the first to give me the one thing I've only ever wanted... A friend."

Starscream smiled.

"But, more than that. It's stronger than that. More complex. I... Think you're beautiful. I really care about you Starlight, and would do...Anything to..." Starscream aburptly trailed off, glancing away from the unicorn.

Slowly, he started taking in bits and pieces, connecting links in his head.

Starlight felt a pink blush overcome her. Him, saying all this, was something she was so unsure of, something she'd never thought he'd think about her. Is he about to say it?..

Suddenly, something clicked. Starscream gasped lightly, feeling his optics widen and the realization shake his entire being.

His program had changed slightly.

His eyes wandered back to Starlight's.

He was astonished.

"Oh my Primus..I can't believe it... I've... Fallen in love... With you."

Starlight's eyes widened now too, and her mouth fell open.

The kids gasped, astounded. Hotshot was also very surprised. He would have never guessed that a transformer, especially someone like Starscream, could develop this feeling. Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy beamed. They started to feel giddy for their friend.

"No way..." Rad expressed breathlessly.

"How is this even possible?.." Hotshot and Alexis asked themselves.

This was unprecedented. Impossible. Yet, here it was.

Her dream was real.

There was a stunning silence over the room, nether moving an inch.

Suddenly Starscream got anxious.

"What's supposed to happen now? You love me, I love you. But, I've never been in love before. what am I supposed to do? What are we supposed to do?"

Starlight bit her lip, but suddenly smiled.

She suddenly teleported onto his chest, so that she was up close to his face.

"Starscream, stop."

He silenced himself. She was close. It suddenly made him feel slightly uncomfortable.

"It's going to be fine. Stop worrying so much."

Starscream sighed, setting his hand down.

"Sorry."

His voice was now barely a whisper, but Starlight was close enough to hear it clearly.

"This is just so new to me. I don't know what people do in a-"

"Relationship?"

"Yeah. That. How do I show you my love anyway, besides telling you?"

Starlight blushed again.

"Well, in Equestria, couples do things for each other, go on dates, dance together, complement each other, hug, flirt..." she avoided his eyes. "...Kiss."

Starscream was fascinated with what he was learning. He was also interested in Starlight's sudden hesitation for that last thing.

"Can you show me?"

Starlight's blush turned red.

"W-which one?"

"The last one you mentioned."

Suddenly Starlight was extremely flushed with emotion.

She didn't expect that.

Twilight chuckled quietly. This was going to be interesting.

"W-well.. I..."

Starlight stole a glance at him, and quickly figured out a solution.

She inhaled.

"There are two areas that are the most common.."

She gathered up courage to look at him.

"One of them... Is here..."

She mustered strength to push through her anxiety, and took a step forward, giving him a peck on the cheek. She took a step back to see his reaction.

He blinked. He wasn't prepared for that. It was different. He looked at her. He felt a strange twinge of embarrassment. But again, it felt different.

"Do that again."

The three ponies gave out a quiet aww, and Alexis found her voice joining them.

Rad and Carlos glanced at each other.

Starlight exhaled. She took a step, and once again kissed his cheek.

She smiled meekly after.

Suddenly that strange embarrassment came through. He felt his faceplates warm up, like they were turning red. Well, they were.

Starscream somehow knew what it was.

Starlight noticed him blushing, and she grinned, starting to giggle.

Starscream saw this, and only felt more embarrassed.

"W-What?"

Starlight spoke with quiet laughter.

"Y-Your cheeks..."

Starscream sighed with defeat. She was one he couldn't argue with most of the time.

"I'm blushing. I know. Am I supposed to feel embarrassed by this?"

"I wouldn't call it total embarrassment... I would say you feel loved."

Starscream tilted his head down slightly, letting the blush stay on him.

"And the other place?"

Starlight had almost forgot.

'Looks like I'm not getting out of this one.'

She looked down.

"Oh. Yeah. The other place..."

She looked up to him, and noticed he was tilting his head. She took a few steps closer.

She was close. So close. Their eyes only a few feet away, lips inches away.

She gulped.

"Are you sure about this?"

Starscream kept his eyes locked on her, deadly serious.

"I want to know. I want to commit to this. I've haven't been this certain about something since the day the spark inside me was ignited."

Starlight was stunned. That was the most beautiful thing she had ever heard him say.

That also stunned Hotshot.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened them, and Starscream was waiting attentively, awaiting whatever she was going to do.

Slowly, gently, she ventured to press her lips against his.

Starscream blinked, and felt his redness increase two-fold. He then noticed her eyes were closed. And he slowly shut his optics the same way.

He felt the tingley warmness of her lips against his, how soft they were. He also felt how they pressed to his, awaiting a response from his own. He decided to follow this, and lightly pressed back, careful to match her.

Starlight was surprised, and her eyelids suddenly flickered open in surprise. But as quickly as she did, her eyelids fell back closed, and she took it in.

Here. Right here. This was something Starscream never knew he needed.

It filled his circuitry with a tingling sensation, and soothed his nerves. His spark was beating in tune with Starlight's heart, and it felt wonderful.

Finally Starlight pulled her head away.

She was speechless. She was flushed with a vibrant cherry red, and her eyes were wide and sparkling. Her lips hovered over each other in total disbelief.

She was not expecting him to learn that fast, and the fact that he seemed to enjoy it... nay, she enjoyed it.. It was unprecedented.

A hand came from the side to hover over Starscream's lips.

Starscream was as floored as Starlight. Shocked he did that, shocked he enjoyed it, shocked that it felt... Nice.

The kids and Hotshot were speechless. The surprise had shocked them into silence. Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy, on the other hand, were making a quiet squee noise. They were overjoyed.

Starscream's hand went back down to his side, and both their eyes met at the same time.

"Wow."

Quiet.

Starscream broke the tension.

"So.. Is that what a kiss feels like?"

Starlight nodded, still blushing. "Hm mm."

Suddenly Starscream smiled.

"It was amazing."

Starlight started to laugh. And soon enough, Starscream joined in.

The laughter died down, and Starscream smirked.

"You know, I wouldn't mind if we did that again."

Starlight rolled her eyes.

"Of course you do."

Starlight smirked near the door, specifically at her friends who helped her out, and closed the door with her magic.

"That's better."

Starscream never got what Starlight was implying, but he didn't have time to dwell on it, as he only wanted to feel this new feeling, and everything it had to offer.

She kissed him again...

This one decision would change the course in his life.

He would not go back to the Decepticons base. But, he would never truly adapt the Autobots' symbol. Instead, his Decepticon symbol would fade, and he would be none. He had found an independent path. He would continue battling alongside the Autobots, but only with the sole purpose to gain Megatron's respect, and to bring the ponies home.

He would die as he did of course, but reincarnation had other plans for him.

He would be brought back in Equestria.

As for if his form was cybertronian or pony, that's for you to decide.

Author's Note

This is a surprise, but a good one. I decided to watch Transformers: Armada recently, and loved what they did with Starscream! So, this ship came back to me. I hope you liked it. By the way, the story on hiatus, My Name? I'm going to finish it. Hopefully before the end of the year, or the beginning of next year. I'm working on it, and I can't wait to finish it. Much love everyone, Write you later!